Akash Anand is “spreading false rumors about my health”, says Mayawati

BSP supremo Mayawati with her nephew Akash Anand during a meeting with party leaders and workers in Lucknow on February 7, 2026. | Photo Credit: Sandeep Saxena

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati on Sunday hit out at her nephew Akash Anand, accusing him of spreading what she termed as false rumors about her health. The four-time chief minister of Uttar Pradesh told a press conference in Lucknow that the ousted party president called her personal secretary Alok Kumar and asked if she was feeling well.

“Those who were expelled from the party spread the rumour. There is a rumor in the party that I am ill. The office manager received a call from Akash Anand. He asked about my health. The office manager told him that I am doing well and I am busy with party work. To this Akash hung up when he asked that “Behen ji” (BSP president at this press conference in M. Lucknows) was not informed.

The allegations came days after BSP president Ms Mayawati removed Akash Anand from the party, shortly after his father-in-law and former Rajya Sabha member Ashok Siddharth announced his retirement from politics. The BSP removed Mr. Anand from the post of National Coordinator on September 3.

The BSP chief urged the BSP workers to mobilize for the upcoming elections; she said that Akash Anand still takes instructions from his father-in-law and does not use his own mind.

“We have to form a government in Uttar Pradesh; workers should take the progressive ideas of Kanshi Ram Ji to the masses and tell them about the achievements of the previous BSP governments,” Ms Mayawati added.

Akash Anand – the son of Mayawati’s brother Anand Kumar and once her chosen political successor – was entrusted with key party responsibilities, but has been removed several times since 2024. While Mayawati has recently stated that she can only continue as a rank-and-file party worker and not in any leadership position.

Published – 13 Sep 2026 11:00 PM IST